The 5-foot-10 Gallagher not only was a Journal News Rockland Scholar-Athlete of the Week her senior year at North Rockland, but also led the team in rebounding as the Red Raiders went 19-4 and advanced to the 2004 Class AA semifinals.

Though she's made an immediate impact in college basketball, she first discovered Hood, a Division III program in Frederick, Md., because of its academics.

"In high school, I took an ecology class and an environmental science class and realized I had a great interest in studying animals," Gallagher said. "After I decided I wanted to major in biology, I read about Hood in U.S. News (& World Report) and they were ranked pretty well."

Gallagher hopes to become a wildlife biologist.

"I love snakes — all kinds of snakes — and exotic animals," she said.

That includes geckos, which are insect-eating lizards.

"They're common in Pakistan," Gallagher said.

But at the collegiate level, players like Gallagher are not.

"She's been an impact player since the day she came in," Hood coach Tracey Kelley-Franklin said.

As a freshman last season, Gallagher led Hood in both scoring (16.9 points per game) and rebounding (9.5) as the Blazers finished 17-7. This season, she's averaging 17.5 points and 7.8 rebounds through 18 games, and the team is 9-9.

Though her numbers are similar, her game is not, Kelley-Franklin said.

"When Danielle came in as a freshman, she had a short to mid-range shot and a nice turnaround jump shot," Kelley-Franklin said. "Since then, she has created an arsenal of post moves, and her shooting range has increased. She does a lot of different things now. That makes it difficult to defend her. If you try to shut her out inside, she will score outside. She's become so versatile."

Kelley-Franklin said it's not uncommon for Gallagher to be matched up against players as much as 5 inches taller.

"We run into teams where she sees 6-2, 6-3 players," Kelley-Franklin said. "But there are also other teams where she'll see 5-9, 5-10 players. So some nights, she might see eye to eye, but she's never one of the taller ones."

But she is one of the most physical ones.

"Weightlifting is important," Gallagher said. "If you're stronger than the other player, it doesn't matter as much if you're not as tall. I was surprised at how aggressive it was in college. I am always diving all over the place for the ball."

She's also played through pain.

"She went down early in the year with a severe sprain and never missed a game," Kelley-Franklin said. "Her love and passion for the sport carries her to do that. She hates to be hurt and hates to sit out. She will play through utter pain just to be on the floor. I wish I could clone her and get 12 more just like her."

Said Gallagher: "Hustle and desire are about 75 percent of the game. It's all about heart."